Saginaw brothers acknowledge role in toddler's slaying

Two of the three juveniles who face charges stemming from a two-hour shooting spree that killed a toddler have admitted their involvement.

Jhirnea M. Harris, 17, and his 15-year-old brother, Shaquille Harris, both of Saginaw pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from the shooting death of Stacy D. Evans Jr., 14 months, in Buena Vista Township and the assault on another teen in Saginaw.

The older Harris pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of Evans on March 2, 2007; assault with intent to commit murder of Evan's mother, 22-year-old Barretta Epperson; assault with intent to murder 20-year-old Joseph Ball, who is Epperson's boyfriend; and assault with intent to commit murder against a 17-year-old youth prosecutors are not naming; and weapons charges.

Jhirnea Harris gave one-word answers when his attorney, Rodney J. O'Farrell, and Assistant Prosecutor Paul M. Fehrman asked questions about what took place the night of the murder.

The younger Harris pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder against the unnamed 17-year-old teen and possessing a firearm while committing a felony.

In return for the pleas, prosecutors agreed to dismiss more serious charges of first-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Saginaw County Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson has not set a sentencing date for the brothers.

The plea agreement calls for the brothers to testify against Dequavious T. Johnson, 17, also known as "Pootie," who prosecutors said shot and killed Evans. It also calls for Jhirnea Harris to spend 24 years and six months in prison and his brother to serve seven years behind bars.

Johnson, of Saginaw, was to face trial today on murder charges. Prosecutors are not offering any plea agreements to Johnson.

Meanwhile, Jackson will sentence Davario A. Barrera, 19, of Saginaw on Thursday, April 3, to a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole on murder and weapons charges for his role in the fatal shooting of Evans.

Last month, Jackson sentenced the fifth co-defendant, Jerry W. Long, 24, of Saginaw, who owned and drove the Hummer H3 the men were in during the shooting spree. Long will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors said Long drove his friends during the two-hour shooting rampage: on Gallagher, where they shot at the 17-year-old youth, an incident in which Barrera was not involved; on Glenwood, where Barrera shot at a group of men on a porch and the men fired back; and at Norman and Outer Drive, where they shot and killed Evans.

Barrera was in the back seat of the Hummer when he told Johnson to shoot at a black 2000 Lincoln LS -- containing Evans, Epperson and Ball -- in Buena Vista Township, prosecutors said.

Authorities allege the defendants were seeking revenge against a teen who scuffled with Jhirnea Harris that day just before a basketball game at Saginaw High School.